With an ageing baby boomer generation, and few concrete, scientific advancements towards a prescribed drug or treatment in the last 10 years, Dementia and Alzheimer’s have become increasingly concerning conditions in the UK. As a result, the urgency to find a treatment is also becoming a pressing concern, as researchers endeavour to find a way of preventing the progression of these diseases.

With the increase in awareness, it has been incredibly encouraging to witness a greater commitment from governments, organisations and charities towards funding Alzheimer’s research in the hope of finding a cure; a commitment we can only hope will pay off in the near future.

What is Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia?

Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia are both currently incurable conditions which affect a person's brain, causing symptoms such as a decline of memory, as well as struggling with speaking or orientation, which can impede on sufferer’s quality of life and often require specialist care. As a result, they are diseases that can put a lot of strain on the families of sufferers, as well as the individuals themselves.

Currently, there are more than 850,000 people in Britain suffering with Dementia, and over the next 30 years the number of people to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease is expected to go into the tens of millions, as the population continues to age. Although therapists and scientists have been making progress on issues such as how to best live with dementia, the need to find an effective cure still remains.

The New Alzheimer’s and Dementia Breakthrough

Earlier this year, there was a possible breakthrough towards discovering a treatment for Dementia. Researchers at the University of Cambridge, while researching a new type of Cancer drug, found a possible way to reduce the risk of people developing Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

The symptoms of Alzheimer’s begin when clumps of deformed protein, known as amyloid, build-up in the brain.

These researchers found while testing a drug called Bexarotene, currently used to treat Lymphoma, that it could potentially stop these build ups of protein, thus preventing Alzheimer’s in later life.

This therapy is called ‘neurostatin’, and lead researcher Prof Michele Vendruscolo believes people will be taking ‘neurostatin’ as early as their 30’s, to help prevent a build-up of amyloid and consequently stop the progress of the disease in the human brain.

Although it is still too soon to say whether this is the concrete breakthrough in Alzheimer’s research that has been awaited for the last decade, this discovery is extremely positive and can undoubtedly lead to preventing the number of potential Dementia cases in the future.

As leading providers of Alzheimer’s and Dementia care services, we understand how these diseases can be great strains on sufferers and their loved ones. We also understand the need for people who are battling Alzheimer’s or Dementia to remain as independent as possible, and their wish to be able to continue living in their own home, which is why we provide a range of tailored home care services to ensure the highest quality of life to all of our clients.

If you’re interested in our Alzheimer’s and Dementia care services, please feel free to download our brochure, or get in touch with either our Birmingham, Bradford or Leicester offices for more information.